“I believe that human beings have an overwhelming potential to consistently achieve wonderful and marvelous accomplishments and also that human nature is innately good and altruistic. Every person is meant to fulfill a magnificent journey that constitutes their distinctive life story; furthermore no two people have an identical reason for being alive simultaneously on this earth. This does not mean that groups or clusters of human beings cannot delight in the similarity of their beliefs or pursuit of goals, hopes and dreams. On the contrary, my view of human nature suggests that one person holds the specially carved key to a story that only they are capable of unlocking and precisely living out. Even in the darkest of times when it seems as though nothing more could possibly go wrong, even when someone’s world appears to them to be absolutely meaningless it is imperative to keep seeing the world in terms of its possibilities, instead of its limitations. Human beings possess volumes more strength than they credit themselves with, and it is often at a person’s least hopeful of times that their world can be crafted back into an extraordinary masterpiece. In light of any tragedy that should shatter one’s belief, that person nonetheless contains the inner capacity to rise from the ashes as a phoenix would and collect the broken puzzle pieces of their presently damaged world to create a brand new juxtaposition of reality for themselves. Human beings are vastly powerful vehicles of potential positive change despite their previous injuries or damaging past experiences. Quoting the brilliant expression of William Faulkner, “Nothing, nothing—war, grief, hopelessness, despair—can last as long as man himself can last. Man himself will prevail over all his anguishes, provided he will make the effort to—make the effort to believe in man and in hope”. What I see as most diminishing to this uniquely complex and intricately beautiful capacity of each and every human being no matter their composition of culture, race, gender, political, sexual or religious preference, social level, etc., are the outside influences of negativity which can largely alter a person’s view of self and connectively of others and of their surroundings. Such a barrage of negativity in one’s life can logically lead any person to lose faith in humanity and also to lose sight of their own significance because they are solely able to visualize the experience of an existence in which the role they personally play is deemed miniscule. My point of view of human nature thus links directly to my philosophy of psychotherapy in that I will desire to communicate to every client the strength and passion that can be channeled within them in order to fulfill the ideal life they wish to lead. It is often the loss of faith in humanity that leads people to doubtfully question the merit of psychology, as they may not recognize the positive power still existent in their innermost soul that can be brought back to the forefront with assistance on the part of their own proactive dedication and also the enlightening guidance of the therapist who works in conjunction with their goals. Countless times in life people lose sight-either fully or to a certain extent-of the beauty and power inherent within themselves, within the world and finally within others, and a therapist may ultimately serve to bring forth that individual’s brilliance of light through the darkest shades of life to encourage them to realize how important the continuation of their story truthfully is. A dose of encouragement may seem insignificant but it is through this untiring assistance that I believe clients may gradually find a renewed sense of connectivity and purpose with others and also with life as a whole.”

—Brittney McLaughlin